Scouring apparatus for cartridgecases and the like



Dec. 7, 1943. c. A. DRElsBAcl-l SGOURING APPARATUS FOR CARTRIDGE-CASES AND '.IHE LIKE Filed Jan. 29, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 `l nl KJ Dec. 7, 1943. Q A, DRElsBAcH 2,336,394

cAsEs ANL THE LIKE SCOURING APPARATUS FOR CARTRIDGE Filed Jan. 29, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 7, 1943 UNITED STATES E Fries SCOURING APPARATUS FOR CARTRIDGE- CASES AND THE LIKE 16 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in scouring apparatus for effecting the cleaning of tubular objects such, for instance, as cartridge-cases, i. e., metallic cartridge-cases in which the propelling charge for a projectile is housed, together with a usual igniter. The apparatus of the present invention serves, as will hereinafter appear, to remove scale, oxide, and other foreign matter from the surfaces of cartridge-cases and the like which cleaning operation may, for convenience of description, be aptly termed a scouring operation.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a superior apparatus of the character referred to whereby cartridge-cases and the like may be freed of scale and other foreign matter in an expeditious and economical manner.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a superior scouring apparatus by means of which both the interior and exterior peripheries of cartridge-cases and the like may be simultaneously scoured by means of abrasive par` ticles and without the employment of corrosive fluids. y

A further object of the present invention is to provide a superior apparatus of the character referred to whereby both the interior and eXterior peripheries of a cartridge-casing or the like may be subjected to repeated impacts of abrasive particles in a manner which will effectively remove scale, oxide, and other foreign matter but without pitting the surfaces of the objects being cleaned or scoured.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a superior scouring apparatus by means of which the surfaces of cartridge-cases or the like may be thoroughly and economically cleaned by the use of abrasive particles or grit which latter are impinged upon the surfaces to. be cleaned in a substantially-uniform manner to insure proper scouring or cleaning without, however, deleteriously affecting the metallic surfaces acted upon.

With the above and other objects in view, as will appear to those skilled in the art from the present disclosure, this invention includes all features in the said disclosure which are novel over the prior art.

In the accompanying drawings, in which certain modes of carrying out the present invention are shown for illustrative purposes:

Fig. l is a broken View in side elevation of one form of scouring apparatus embodying the present invention;

Fig, 2 is a central-longitudinal sectional View thereof taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. l:

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 3--3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a similar View taken on the line 5-5 of Fig, 2;

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a similar view taken on the line l-l of Fig. 2;

Fig. 8 is a broken transverse sectional View taken on the line 8 8 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 9 is a perspective View of the case-supporting plate, detached;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view, partly in section, of the outer scouring-tube;

Fig. 11 is a similar view of the inner scouringtube;

Fig. 12 is a top or plan View of the mixing-fitting, detached;

Fig. 13 is a perspective View showing the mix ing-tting in central-longitudinal section;

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of the air-supply fitting, detached; and

Fig. 15 is a similar view of the retaining-disk for the inner scouring-tube.

Some of the major features visible from the exterior of the apparatus herein chosen for purposes of illustrating one form of the present invention, are a cap-member 2D, an upper shellmember 2|, a lower shell-member 22 and an air-supply tting 23. Also visible from the exterior of the apparatus are a grit-feeding conduit 24 and an exhaust-conduit 25 respectively connected to the cap-member 2li and the airsupply tting 23 in manners as will hereinafter appear.

The cap-member 2i! above referred to is generally of upwardly-and-inwardly-tapering conical form and is provided at its upper end with a tubular neck 2&5 to which is connected the lower end of the grit-feeding conduit 24, which latter leads to any suitable source of abrasive particles or grit. At its lower end, the capmember 20 is formed with an annular outwardly-eXtending flange 21 against the under face of which is cemented the upper face of the outer portion of a diskelike gasket 28 formed of relatively-soft rubber or other suitable resilient sealing material.

Mounted in the lower portion of the cap-member 2D is a relatively-thick bottom-plate 29 having upon its periphery three (more or less) outwardly-extending inclined lugs or ribs 3i), as is especially well shown in Fig. 3. For purposes of retaining the bottom-plate 29 in the lower portion of the cap-member 25, each lug or rib 3l! of the said bottom-plate has threaded into it the inner end of the adjacent one of three screws 3l passing inwardly through the cap-member 20, as is especially Well indicated in Fig. 2.

vulcanized, cemented, or otherwise suitably secured to the upper surface of the bottom-plate 2B is an upwardly-and-inwardly-tapering gritdistributing cone 32 which is preferably formed of rubber or other suitable abrasion-resistant material. As is shown especially Well in Fig. 2, the under face of the bottom plate 29 is flush with the top of the gasket 28, which latter is also cemented to the said bottom-plate. The bottom-plate 29 is itself conically contoured to complement the conical contour of the grit-distributing cone 32 and is proportioned, in conjunction therewith and in conjunction with the inner surfaces of the cap-member 20, to provide a conical grit-feed passage 33 leading downwardly-andoutwardly from the neck 2S of the cap-member 20. The said grit-feed passage communicates at its lower end with an annular grit-passage 34 formed in the gasket 28 before referred to.

The grit-passage 34 just above referred to communicates at its lower Yend with three (more or less) arcuate grit-passages 35 formed in a casesupporting plate 36, as is especially well shown in Fig. 9. The under face of the gasket 28 which forms a unit with the cap-member as before described, rests upon the upper face of the casesupporting plate 36 when the apparatus is in operating condition.

To provide for the convenient installation and removal of cartridge-cases or the like respectively into and from the apparatus, the cap-member 20, together with the parts assembled therewith, is mounted so as to be readily retired out of engagement with the upper surface of the casesupporting plate 36 in any suitable manner. In the instance shown, the cap-member 2!) has secured to it a radially projecting arm 31 as is shown in Fig. l. The arm 31 just referred to is pivotally mounted upon a shaft or stud 38 so that the cap-member 20 and the parts carried thereby or associated therewith may be retired into the position in which they are indicated by broken lines in Fig. 1.

The case-supporting plate 35 previously referred to rests upon the upper surface of an annular flange 39 formed at the upper end of the upper shell-member 2| and extending outwardly therefrom. Adjacent its periphery, the said case-supporting plate 36 is provided with a plurality of rigid and downwardly-extending dowelpins 40, each of which normally extends downwardly into the adjacent one of a plurality of passages 4I formed in the flange 39. The said case-supporting plate 36 also rests on the upper edge of a partition-tube 42 located within the upper shell-member 2l and having an external diameter suliiciently smaller than the internal diameter of the said shell-member 2l to provide a vertical annular grit-feed passage 43, as shown particularly well in Fig. 2. The passage 43 registers at its upper end with the arcuate grit-passages 35 in the case-supporting plate 36.

Immediately inwardly with respect to the inner surface of the partition-tube 42, the case-supporting plate 35 is provided with three (more or less) circumferentially-spaced-apart locatingfingers 44 which depend from the plate 36 within the partition-tube 42. The upper inner corner` of each of the locating-fingers 44 is formed with a notch-like rim-seat 45 receiving the rim 46 formed at the head-end of a metallic cartridgecase 41, which latter may be of any desired type. In the instance shown, the said cartridge-case has its open end contracted to snugly t a suitable projectile (not shown), in a manner well known in the ammunition art. By virtue of the tion-tube 42.

resting of the rim 46 of the cartridge-case 41 or its equivalent in the notch-like rim-seats of the case-supporting plate 36, the said cartridgecase 41 is stabilized against both lateral and downward movement. Normally, the cartridgecase 41 is held against upward displacement by the under surface of the gasket 28 forming a feature of the retirable cap-member 20.

The lower end of the upper shell-member 2i is also provided with an outwardly-extending annular flange 48 which is bolted or otherwise secured to an annular outwardly-extending flange 49 at the Lipper end of the lower shell-member 22 before referred to and as is especially well shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The lower end of the lower shell-member 22 is formed with an annular inwardly-extending flange 59 bolted or otherwise secured to the upper wall 5I of the air-supply tting 23. The complemental bottom wall 52 of the air-supply fitting 23 has bolted or otherwise rigidly attached thereto an outwardly-extending annular ange 53 formed at the upper end of the exhaust-conduit 25, which latter may be connected to any suitable dust-collecting apparatus.

Fitting between the outwardly-displaced lower portions of the locating-fingers 44 of the casesupporting plate 35 is the upper end of an outer scouring-tube 54. As thus arranged, the upper portion of the scouring-tube 54 is stabilized by the locating-fingers 44 and its upper edge terminates well below the rim 46 of the cartridge-case 41. The lower end of the outer scouring-tube 54 rests upon a ring-like gasket 55 which, in turn, is mounted in an annular seat 56 formed centrally in a mixing-fitting 51 mainly enclosed within the lower shell-member 22 before referred to.

The mixing-fitting 51 rests upon the upper surface of the air-supply tting 23 with a thin resilient gasket 58 interposed therebetween. In effect, the mixing-fitting 51 is clamped vertically between the upper shell-member 2l and the airsupply fitting 23, as shown in Fig. 2. On its upper face, the mixing-fitting 51 is provided with three (more or less) wedge-shaped locating-lugs 59 projecting upwardly therefrom a slight distance into the lower portion of the annular grit-feed passage 43. The said locating-lugs 59 thus serve to locate the mixing-fitting 51 with respect to the upper shell-member 2i and 'associated parts and also serve to stabilize the lower end of the partition-tube 42.

Extending axially through the mixing-fitting 51 is a passage, the upper portion of which co-nstitutes an annular mixing-chamber 6i) wherein air and grit are mixed in 'a manner as will be hereinafter described. The lower portion of the passage just referred to constitutes an annular air-passage 6l through which air under pressure rises for purposes as will be hereinafter described.

The mixing-fitting 51 is, in the instance shown, formed with three corresponding inclined gritfeed passages 62, each of which has its outer upper end in registry with the grit-feed passage 43 between the upper shell-member 2| and the parti- The lower inner ends of the gritfeed passages 62 communicate with the central axial passage in the mixing-fitting at a point vertically intermediate the lannular mixing-chamber 6D therein and the aligned annular air-passage 5l before referred to.

Intermediate each pair of its three equidistantly-spaced grit-feed passages 62. the mixing-fitting 51 is formed with one of three corresponding and substantially-vertical exhaust-passages S3. Each of the said exhaust-passages communicates at its upper end with an annular exhaust-passage 64 having its outer boundary formed by the inner surface of the partition-tube 42 and having its inner boundary formed by the exterior periphery of the outer scouring-tube 54. rIhe respective lower ends of each of the exhaust-passages 63 communicate with one of three vertical exhaustpassages 65 formed in the air-supply fitting 23, in a manner as is especially well shown in Figs. 2 and 14. In turn, the exhaust-passages 65 just referred to communicate at their lower ends with the exhaust-conduit 25.

In addition to its respective upper and bottom walls 5i and 52, the air-supply fitting 23 includes an annular inner wall B6 and an annular outer wall 61 which respectively form the inner and outer boundaries of an air-chamber 68. Compressed air or its equivalent may be supplied to the air-chamber 68 in the air supply fitting 23 by means of an air-pipe 69 threaded into a radial air-port 1D formed in the outer wall 51 of the fitting 23.

Air under pressure from the air-chamber 68 in the air-supply fitting 23 escapes upwardly into the annular air-passage 6l of the mixing-fitting 51, through a vertical annular air-passage 1I formed in the upper wall 5l of the fitting 23 in registration with the said air-passage 6l.

The inner wall 5B of the air-supply fitting 23 encloses a vertical clearance-passage 12 and segregates the same from the air-chamber 58. The said clearance-passage 12 is arranged coaxially of the structure and receives the stem 13 of an inner scouring-tube 14 projecting upwardly through the structure and within the interior of the cartridge-case 41 to a point substantially flush with the upper end of the outer scouring-tube 54, as is shown especially well in Fig 2.

At the junction of its depending tubular stem 13 and its main upper portion. the inner scouringtube 14 is formed with a downwardly-facing annular shoulder 15 which engages with an annular resilient gasket' 16. The said gasket extends around the upper portion of the stem 13 and, in

turn, is seated against an upwardly-facing annular seat 11 formed in the upper portion of the airsupply fitting 23 laround the central clearancepassage 12 therein.

For the purpose of holding the inner scouringtube 14 in place in the structure with capacity for ready release therefrom, a retaining-disk 18 (Figs. 2 and 15) is employed which extends transversely of the air-supply fitting 23 and which is recessed in the under face of the latter. The said retaining-disk 18 is centrally apertured and is formed with two diametrically opposite clearancenotches 19-19 through each of which is adapted to vertically pass one or two retaining-lugs Sil- 80. The said retaining-lugs Sii-8G are formed integral with the lower end of the stem 13 of the inner scouring-tube 14 and extend radially outwardly therefrom. Normally the retaining-lugs 80-80 after being passed downwardly through the clearance-notches 'iS-19 against the tension of the resilient gasket 15 are turned (by turning the entire inner scouring-tube 14) so 'as to be displaced circurnferentially about midway between the respective clearance-notches 19-'9, as is indicated in Fig. 3. Thus, the respective upper faces of the retaining-lugs 83--83 engage with the under face of the retaining-disk 18 and serve to hold the inner scouring-tube 14 against upward displacement while the said scouring-tube is held against downward displacement by the engagement of its shoulder 15 with the resilient gasket 16. For purposes of holding the retaining-disk 18 in place, a plurality of clip-like plates 8| are bolted to the under face of the air-supply fitting 23, as is especially well shown in Figs. 2 and 8.

On its exterior periphery, the inner scouringtube 14 is formed with a vertical series of bandlike grit-deliecting ribs 82 which serve to repeatedly deflect grit or other abrasive particles obliquely outwardly7 into engagement with the interior surfaces of the cartridge-case 41, under conditions as will hereinafter appear. The central-longitudinal passage through the inner scouring-tube 14 constitutes an exhaust-passage 83 leading downwardly from the space within the upper portion of the cartridge-case 41 to the exhaust-conduit 25, as is shown in Fig. 2.

On its inner surface, the outer scouring-tube 54 is formed with a longitudinally-displaced series of band-like grt-deflecting ribs 84 which serve under conditions as Will hereinafter appear, to deflect grit or abrasive particles into repeated oblique engagement with the exterior periphery of the cartridge-case 41 or such other similar article as may be installed in the apparatus for being cleaned or scoured.

Operation While the cap-member 20 is retired such, for instance,'as into the position in which it is shown by broken lines in Fig. 1, a cartridge-case or other suitable obje-ct to be cleaned such as the cartridge-case 41, may be installed into the position in which it is shown in Fig. 2. Following the installatio-n just referred to, the cam-member 20, together with the parts carried thereby, would be restored to the position in which it is shown in Figs. 1 and 2, to thereby in effect seal in the object to be cleaned and at the same time stabilize the same against upward displacement. Air under pressure may now be permitted to enter the air-chamber 68 in the air-supply fitting 23 from the air-pipe 89. Such air under pressure would then travel upwardly through the annular airpassage 'H in the upper wall 5I of the air-supply fitting 23 and thence pass upwardly through the annular air-passage 6I and the annular mixingchamber in the mixing-fitting 51.

After the swiftly-moving air reaches the mixing-chamber as just above described, the said air will pass upwardly into the interior of the lower portion of the outer scouring-tube 54 and upon reaching the open end of the cartridge case 41 or its equivalent, the stream of air will divide and substantially half thereof will flow upwardly exteriorly of the cartridge-case 41, while the remainder will flow upwardly interiorly of the said cartridge-case.

The aforesaid portion of the air-stream flowing exteriorly of the cartridge-case 41 will rise swiftly in the space between the undulating inner periphery of the outer scouring-tube 54 and the exterior periphery of the cartridge-case 41, and will emerge from the upper end of the outer scouringtube 54. After emerging from the upper end of the outer scouring-tube 54, the air will reverse itself in direction and flow downwardly through the annular exhaust-passage 54 located between the outer periphery of the outer scouring-tube 54 and the inner periphery of the partition-tube 42. This portion of the air-stream will then continue downwardly through the exhaust-passages 63 in the mixing-fitting 51 and thence downwardly through the three registering exhaust-passages B5 in the air-supply fitting 23. The air just referred to will then pass downwardly from the air- Ithe exhaust-passage 83 passages 65 into the interior of the exhaust-conduit 25 for conduction to a suitable dust-collecting device.

The remaining portion of the swiftly-moving air rising upwardly through the lower end of the outer scouring-tube 54 will pass upwardly in the space deiined by the inner periphery of the cartridge-case El and the undulating outer periphery of the inner scouring-tube Upon reaching the upper end of the inner scouring-tube 115i, the portion of the air now being traced, will reverse its direction and ilo-w downwardly through extending vertically through the center of the said inner scouringtube T4. IThis air will emerge through the lower end of the exhaust-passage 83 into the interior of the exhaust-conduit 25 and mingling with the air descending through the air-passages 65 in the air-supply iitting 23, will pass to a suitable dustcollecting device under though of course, if desired, both streams of air may be permitted to escape into the atmosphere and may be reversed in direction.

Following the supplying of the air under pressure to the air-chamber 68 and its owing in the divided stream described outwardly through the exhaust-conduit 25, abrasive particles or grit of the desired size and hardness, may now be fed into the interior of the cap-member 2F] through the grit-feeding conduit 24. Such grit as is fed into the neck 25 of the cap-member 2B will fall upon the pointed upper end of the distributingcone 32 and will be spread substantially-uniformly thereby and by the conical surface of the bottom-plate 29. the lower outer edge of the bottom-plate 29 through the grit-passage 34 in the gasket 28 and thence through the arcuate grit-passages 35 in the case-supporting plate 35 downwardly into the upper end of the annular grit-feed passage 43 within the upper shell-member 2l.

The grit will now emerge by gravity through the lower end of the annular grit-feed passage 43 and pass downwardly through the inclined gritfeed passages S2 in the miXing-tting 5I. The grit will then emerge through the respective lower ends of the inclined grit-feed passages 62 into the upper end of the annular air-passage 5l of the mixing-fitting El. At this point, the grit will be picked up by the rapidly-moving stream of air rising through the air-passage 5| and will be blown upwardly and thoroughly intermixed with the air in the annular mixing-chamber Bil. The grit will then continue upwardly into the lower end of the outer scouring-tube 54 and upon reaching the open lower end of the cartridgecase 4l, part o the mixed air and grit will move upwardly around the exterior of the said cartridge-case while substantially the other half thereof will move upwardly through the interior thereof.

In moving upwardly, around the exterior of the cartridge-case il?, that particular portion of the mixed air and grit will be repeatedly obliquely deflected into scouring engagement with the exf* preferred conditions, f

The said grit will fall on from The mixed air and grit emerging from the top of the outer scouring-tube 54 will reverse itself in direction and descend through the annular exhaust-passage 64 and nally reach the interior of the exhaust-conduit 25 via a route previ-ously described in connection with the initial air movement. The portion of the mixed air and grit passing upwardly within the cartridgecase 41 will, in turn, reverse its direction and descend through the axial exhaust-passage 83 in the inner scouring-tube 'I4 to the interior of the exhaust-conduit 25.

After the lapse of a predetermined time sufficient to effect the desired cleaning or scouring, the supply of grit and air to the apparatus may be shut off. The cap-member 20 and the parts carried thereby may now be retired to permit the removal of the now-scoured cartridge-case M, and the insertion into the apparatus of a fresh cartridge-case or the like, preparatory to another scouring cycle.

In producing drawn metal objects such as cartridge-cases for artillery projectiles, it is customary to interrupt the drawing steps periodically and to anneal the metal in order to facilitate further drawing operations. Such annealing operations produce scale and oxide which are particularly troublesome in connection with cartridge-cases formed of steel. Ordinarily, scale, and other foreign matter, is removed from cartridge-cases or the like by means of an acid pickling bath, but despite repeated rinsings, residual corrosive agents are apt to remain in the pores of the metal, with the result that not only are the drawing-tools subjected to corrosive action, but such cartridge-cases themselves are apt to corrode in even brief intervals of time. Following the completion of a cartridge-case (which is substantially the condition illustrated in Fig. 2), it is also desirable to give the cartridge-case a nishing cleaning operation prior to plating or lacquering, and such operation may be conveniently conducted in the apparatus of the present invention.

Air under various pressures may be introduced into the apparatus but it has been found that one of the most effective pressures is that of about ten pounds per square inch. Under conditions where it is necessary to remove very tenacious scale, or other foreign matter, from a shellcasing or the like, relatively-coarse particles of crushed chilled-iron grit may be employed. In instances where but a relatively-light coating is to be removed, relatively-fine grit or other abrasive material may be employed. Under certain conditions, mixtures of coarse and ne grit are most advisable.

The invention may be carried out in other specic ways than those herein set forth without departing from the spirit and essential characteristics of the invention, and the present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalency range of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.

I claim:

1. A scouring-apparatus for cleaning cartridge-cases and the like, comprising: an inner scouring-unit; an outer scouring-unit substantially surrounding the said inner scouring-unit and having its inner periphery spaced from the outer periphery of the said inner scouring-unit to accommodate the wall of a cartridge-case in the space thus provided; grit-feed means constructed and arranged to feed mixed air and grit between the outer periphery of the said inner scouring-unit and the inner surface of the wall of a cartridge-case located in the space between the said inner scouring-unit and the said outer scouring-unit, the said grit-feed means also being constructed and arranged to feed mixed air and grit between the inner periphery of the said outer scouring-unit and the outer periphery of the wall of the cartridge-case; and exhaust-means leading outwardly from the space within and the space outside of the wall of the cartridge-case located in the space between the two said scouring-units to provide for the egress from the apparatus of mixed air and grit andforeign matter.

2i. A scouring-apparatus for cleaning cartridge-cases and the like, comprising: case-supporting means constructed and arranged to support a cartridge-case at the head-end thereof; an inner scouring-unit constructed and arranged to project within the open end of a cartridgecase held by the said case-supporting means; an outer scouring-unit substantially surrounding the said inner scouring-unit and having its interior periphery spaced from the outer periphery of the said inner scouring-unit to accommodate the wall of a cartridge-case in the space thus provided; grit-feed means constructed and arranged to project mixed air and grit toward the open end of a cartridge-case held in the said case-supporting means and in a direction to cause the said cartridge-case to divide the stream of mixed air and grit for partial flow interiorly and partial flow exteriorly of the wall of the said cartridge-case; and exhaustmeans leading outwardly from the portion of the space within and the portion of the space outside of the wall of the cartridge-case held by the said case-supporting means to conduct to the exterior of the apparatus mixed air and grit and material scoured from said cartridge-case.

3. A scouring-apparatus for cleaning cartridge-cases and the like, comprising: an inner scouring-unit having its exterior periphery of undulating form; an outer scouring-unit substantially surrounding the said inner scouringunit and having its inner periphery of undulating form and spaced from the undulating outer periphery of the said inner scouring-unit to accommodate the wall of the cartridge-case in the space thus provided; grit-feed means constructed and arranged to feed mixed air and grit between the undulating outer periphery of the said inner scouring-unit and the inner surface of the wall of the cartridge-case located in the space between the said inner scouring-unit and the said outer scouring-unit, the said grit-feed means also being constructed and arranged to feed mixed air and grit between the undulating inner periphery of the said outer scouring-unit and the outer periphery of the wall of the cartridge-case; and exhaust-means leading outwardly from the space within and the space outside of the wall of the cartridge-case located in the space b etween the two said scouring-units to provide for the egress from the apparatus of mixed air and grit and foreign matter.

4. A scouring-apparatus for cleaning cartridge-cases and the like, comprising: case-supporting means constructed and arranged to support a cartridge-case at the head-end thereof; an inner scouring-unit constructed and arranged to project within the open end ofv a cartridge-case held by the said case-supporting means andl having its outer periphery of undulating form;-an outer scouring-unit substantially surrounding the said inner scouring-unit and having its interior periphery of undulating form and spaced from the undulating outer peripheiy of the said inner scouring-unit to accommodate the wall of a eartridge-case in the space thus provided; grit-feed means constructed and. arranged to project mixed air and grit toward the open end of a cartridge-case held in the said case-supporting means and in a direction to cause the said cartridge-case to divide the stream of mixed air and grit for partial flow interiorly and partial flow exteriorly of the wall of the said cartridge-case; and exhaust-means leading outwardly from the portion of the space within and the portion of the space outside of the wall of the cartridgecase held by the said case-supporting means to conduct to the exterior of the apparatus mixed air and grit and material scoured from said cartridge-case.

5. A scouring-apparatus for cleaning cartridge-cases and the like, comprising: an inner scouring-unit of tubular form and having a longitudinal exhaust-passage therein for the egress of mixed air and grit from within a cartridgecase; an outer scouring-unit substantially surrounding the said inner scouring-unit and having its inner periphery spaced from the outer periphery of the said inner scouring-unit to provide a space i'or the accommodation of the wall of a cartridge-oase between the two said scouring-units, the said outer scouring-unit also being provided with an exhaust-passage for the egress of mixed air and grit from a point adjacent the exterior of the cartridge-case; and grit-feed means for feeding mixed air and grit between the outer periphery of the said inner scouringunit and inner periphery of the wall of a cartridge-case located in the space between the two said units and also feeding mixed air and grit between the outer periphery of the cartridge-case and the inner periphery of the said outer scouring-unit.

6. A scouring-apparatus forcleaning cartridge-cases and the like, comprising: case-supporting means constructed and arranged to support the head-end of a cartridge-case; an inner scouring-unit oi' tubular form and having a longitudinal exhaust-passage extending therethrough for the egress of mixed air and grit from within a cartridge-case held in the said case-supporting means; an outer scouring-unit substantially surrounding the said inner scouring-unit and having its interior periphery spaced from the outer periphery of the said tubular inner scouring-unit to provide a space for the accommodation of the wall of a cartridge-case between the two said scouring-units, the said outer scouringunit also being provided with an exhaust-passage for the egress of mixed air and grit from a point adjacent the exterior of the cartridge-case; and grit-feed means constructed and arranged to project mixed air and grit toward'the open'end of the cartridge-case held by the saidcase-supporting means and in a direction to cause the said cartridge-case to divide the stream of mixed air and grit for partial flow interiorly and lpartial ow exterio-rly of the wall of the said cartridge-case. V V

. l. A scouring-apparatus for cleaning cartridgecases and the like, comprising: an inner scouring-unit of tubular form having its exterior periphery of undulating form and having a longitudinal exhaust-passage extending therein for the egress of mixed air and grit from within a cartridge-case; an outer scouring-unit substantially surrounding the said inner scouring-unit and having an undulating inner periphery spaced from the undulating outer periphery of the said inner scouring-unit to provide a space for the accommodation of the wall of a cartridge-case between the two said scouring-units, the said outer scouring-unit also being provided with an exhaust-passage for the egress of mixed air and grit from a point adjacent the exterior of the cartridge-case; and grit-feed means for feeding mixed air and grit between the outer periphery of the said inner scouring-unit and inner periphery of the wall of a cartridge-case located in the space between the two said units and also feeding mixed air and grit between the outer periphery of the cartridge-case and the inner periphery of the said outer scouring-unit.

8. A scouring-apparatus for cleaning cartridgecases and the like, comprising: case-supporting means constructed and arranged to support a cartridge-case at its head-end; a tubular inner scouring-unit having a longitudinal exhaustpassage extending therethrough for the egress of mixed air and grit from within a cartridgecase held in the said case-supporting means, the said tubular inner scouring-unit having its outer periphery of undulating form; an outer scouringunit substantially surrounding the said inner scouring-unit and having its interior periphery of undulating form and spaced from the undulating outer periphery of the said tubular inner scouring-unit to provide a space for the accommodation of the wall of a cartridge-case, the ysaid outer scouring-unit also being provided with an exhaust-passage for the egress of mixed air and grit from a point adjacent the exterior of the cartridge-case; and grit-feed means constructed and arranged to project mixed air and grit toward the open end of the cartridge-case held by the said case-supporting means and in a direction to cause the said cartridge-case to divide the stream of mixed air and grit for partial flow interiorly and partial flow exteriorly of the wall of the said cartridge-case.

9. A scouring-apparatus for cleaning cartridgecases and the like, comprising: an inner scouring-unit of tubular form having a longitudinal exhaust-passage therein for the egress of mixed air and grit from within a cartridge-case; an outer scouring-unit substantially surrounding the said inner scouring-unit and having an inner wall and an outer wall spaced from each other to provide for the egress of mixed air and grit from a point within the said inner wall of the outer scouring-unit, the inner surface of the inner wall of the said outer scouring-unit being spaced from the outer periphery of the said inner scouringunit to provide a space for the accommodation of the wall of a cartridge-case between the two said scouring-units; and grit-feed means for feeding mixed air and grit between the outer periphery of the said inner scouring-unit and the inner periphery of the wall of the cartridge-case located in the space between the two said scouring-units and also feeding mixed air and grit between the outer periphery of the cartridge-case and the inner periphery of the inner wall of the said outer scouring-unit.

l0. A scouring-apparatus for cleaning cartridge-cases and the like, comprising: an inner scouring-unit of tubular form having an outer periphery of undulating form and provided with a'longitudinal exhaust-passage extending therethrough for the egress of mixed air and grit from within a cartridge-case; an outer scouring-unit substantially surrounding the said inner scour-l ing-unit and having an inner wall and an outer wall spaced `from each other to provide for the egress of mixed air and grit from a point within the said inner wall of the outer scouring-unit; the inner surface of the in'neiI wall of the said outer scouring-unit being of undulating form and spaced from the undulating outer peripheryA of the said in nersouring-unit to provide a space for the accommodation of the wall of a cartridgecase; and grit-feed means feeding mixed air and grit between the undulating outer periphery of the said inner scouring-unit and the outer periphery of the wall of the cartridge-case located in the space between the two said scouring-units andalso feeding mixed air and grit between the outer periphery ofthe cartridge-case and the undulating inner periphery of the said outer scouring-unit.

1l. A scouring-apparatus for cleaning cartridge-cases and the like, comprising: an airand-grit-mixing unit; case-supporting means spaced above the said air-and-grit-mixing unit; an inner scouring-member projecting upwardly from the said air-and-grit-mixing unit into proximity to the said case-supporting means; a. tubular cuter scouring-member substantially surrounding the said inner scouring-member and also projecting upwardly from the said air-andgrit-mixing unit into a position adjacent the said case-supporting means and having its inner periphery spaced from the outer periphery of the said inner scouring-member to provide a space for the accommodation of the wall of a cartridgecase held at its head-end in the said case-supporting means; air-supply means connected to the said air-and-grit-mixing unit to supply air thereto; grit-supply means also connected to the said air-and-grit-mixing unit to supply grit thereto in position to be blown upwardly by air from the said unit; and exhaust-means conducting mixed air and grit away from both the interior and the exterior of a cartridge-'case held in the said case-supporting means.

12. A scouring-apparatus for cleaning cartridge-cases and the like, comprising: an airand-grit-mixing unit; case-supporting means spaced above the said aireand-grit-mixing unit; an inner scouring-member projecting upwardly from the said air-and-grit-mixing unit into proximity to the said case-supporting means; a tubular outer scouring-member substantially surrounding the said inner scouring-member and also projecting upwardly Yfrom the said air-andgrit-mixing unit into a position adjacent the said case-supporting means and having its inner periphery spaced from the outer periphery of the said inner scouring-member to provide a space for the accommodation of the wall of a cartridge-case held at its head-end in the said casesupporting means; air-supply means connected to the said air-and-'grit-mixing unit to supply air thereto; grit-supply means also connected to the said air-and-grit-mixing unit to supply grit thereto in position to be blown upwardly by air from the said unit; and exhaust-means leading from points both within and outside of a cartridge-case held in the said case-supporting means and extending downwardly from such points through the said air-and-grit-mixing unit.

13. A scouring-apparatus for cleaning cartridge-cases and the like, comprising: an airand-grit-mixing unit; case-supporting means spaced above the said air-and-grit-mixing unit; a tubular inner scouring-member projecting upwardly from the said air-and-grit-mixing unit into proximity to the said case-supporting means and having a longitudinal exhaust-passage extending downwardly therethrough from the upper end thereof; a tubular outer scouring-member substantially surrounding the said inner scouring-member and also projecting upwardly from the said air-and-grit-mixing unit into a position adjacent the said case-supporting means, the said outer scouring-member having its inner periphery spaced from the outer periphery of the said inner scouring-member to provide a space for the accommodation of the wall of a cartridgecase held at its head-end in the said case-supporting means; exhaust-means located exteriorly of the said outer scouring-member and communicating with the upper end thereof; air-supply means connected to the said air-and-grit-mixing unit to supply air thereto; and grit-supply means connected to the said air-and-grit-mixing unit to supply grit thereto in position to be blown upwardly by air from the said unit. j

14. A scouring-apparatus for cleaning cartridge-cases and the like, comprising: an airand-grit-mixing unit having exhaust-passage means extending therethrough; case-supporting means spaced above the said air-and-grit-mixing unit; a tubular inner scouring-member projecting upwardly through the said air-and-grit-mixing unit into proximity to the said case-supporting means and having a longitudinal exhaust-passage extending downwardly therethrough from the upper end thereof; a tubular outer scouringmember substantially surrounding the said inner scouring-member and also projecting upwardly from the said air-and-grit-mixing unit into a position adjacent the said case-supporting means, the said outer scouring-member having its inner periphery spaced from the outer periphery of the said inner scouring-member to provide a space for the accommodation of the wall of a cartridge held at its head-end in the said case-supporting means; exhaust-means located around the exterior periphery of the said tubular outer scouring-member and communicating at its upper end with the upper end of the said outer scouringmember and communicating at its lower end with the exhaust-passage means in the said air-andgrit-mixing unit; air-supply means connected with the said air-and-grit-mixing unit to supply air thereto; and grit-supply means connected to the said air-and-grit-mixing unit to supply grit thereto in position to be blown upwardly by air from the said unit into the space between the two said scouring-members.

15. A scouring-apparatus for cleaning cartridge-cases and the like, comprising: an airand-grit-mixing unit; a cap-member spaced above the said air-and-grit-mixing unit and formed with a grit-feed passage; case-supporting means adjacent the said cap-member; a tubular inner scouring-member projecting upwardly through the said air-and-grit-mixing unit into proximity to the said case-supporting means and having a longitudinal exhaust-passage leading downwardly therethrough from the upper end thereof; a tubular outer scouring-member substantially surrounding the said inner scouringmember and also projecting upwardly from the said air-and-grit-mixing unit into a position adjacent the said case-supporting means, the said outer scouring-member having its inner periphery spaced from the outer periphery of the said inner scouring-member to provide a space for the accommodation of the wall of a cartridgecase held at its head-end in the said case-supporting means; exhaust-means substantially surrounding the said outer scouring-member and communicating at its upper end with the upper end of the said scouring-member; grit-feeding means substantially surrounding the said exhaust-means and communicating at its upper end with the grit-feed passage in the said capmember and communicating at its lower end with the interior of the said air-and-grit-mixing unit to feed grit thereinto; and air-supply means connected to the said air-and-grit-mixing unit to supply air thereto in position to drive the grit supplied to the said unit upwardly into the space between the two said scouring-members.

16. A scouring-apparatus for cleaning cartridge-cases and the like, comprising: a capmember having a grit-feed passage therein; casesupporting means located adjacent the inner face of the said cap-member; a mixing-unit spaced below the said cap-member and having substantially-vertical exhaust-means extending therethrough and having a mixing-chamber located inwardly With respectJ to the said exhaustmeans, the said mixing-unit also having gritfeed means leading to its said mixing-chamber; an air-supply unit located adjacent the underside of the mixing-unit and having air-feed means communicating with the mixing-chamber of the latter to supply air under pressure thereto, the said air-supply unit also having exhaustmeans extending therethrough; a tubular inner scouring-member extending upwardly through the said air-supply unit and through the mixingchamber of the said mixing-unit and having its upper end located adjacent the said case-supporting means; a tubular outer scouring-member surrounding the said inner scouring-member and extending upwardly from the mixing-chamber of the said mixing-unit to a point adjacent the top of the said inner scouring-member, the said outer scouring-member having its inner periphery spaced from the outer periphery of the said inner scouring-member to provide a space for the accommodation of the wall oi a cartridge-case and communicating at its-lower end with the mixing-chamber of the said mixingunit; a partition-tube surrounding the said outer scouring-member and having its inner periphery spaced from the outer periphery of the said tubular outer scouring-member to provide a vertical exhaust-passage communicating at its upper end with the upper end of the space between the two said scouring-members and communicating at its lower end with the exhaust-means in the said mixing-unit; and an outer shell surrounding the said partition-tube and having its inner periphery spaced outwardly from the outer periphery of the said partition-tube to provide a vertical grit-feed passage communicating at its upper end with the grit-feed passage in the said cap-member and communicating at its lower end with the grit-feed means in the said mixingunit.

CHARLES A. DREISBACH. 

